The Minister of Communications rejected claims about the role of the internet and the WhatsApp messaging app in the killing of military commanders and officials of the Islamic Republic, and said that some security figures were targeted at times when the internet was also shut down.

🔸On Wednesday, 25 Shahrivar, Sattar Hashemi, by rejecting the claims raised by some officials and government-affiliated media outlets in this regard, said: “Complex security matters cannot be attributed solely to the internet and messaging apps.”

🔸The remarks by the minister come as the debate over the use of foreign messaging apps has once again gained momentum following the new decision of the “Special Headquarters for Managing and Guiding Virtual Space,” and the role of the main institution responsible for policymaking in virtual space in the Islamic Republic is also shrouded in ambiguity.

🔸On 15 Shahrivar, the Special Headquarters lifted the ban on information-sharing by executive bodies in non-domestic messaging apps. Government officials said the decision was made with the aim of enabling the direct presence of government agencies in “platforms where people are present” and for accountability.

🔸However, the decision faced objections from some opponents of lifting internet restrictions, and two days later, a group of members of parliament submitted a request to the Minister of Communications regarding the “reason for lifting the filtering of the WhatsApp messaging app,” which was registered.

🔸The possible role of WhatsApp and other foreign communication tools in identifying and targeting officials and commanders of the Islamic Republic had previously been raised by some government figures.

🔸Read the full report on the Radio Farda website.